Aventurine vs Jade: How are These Gemstones Different?

• Is nephrite jade more valuable than jadeite jade?
• Is all aventurine green?
• Which gem is more expensive?

Main Differences Between Green Aventurine vs Jade

Here are the main differences between aventurine vs jade:

• Green aventurine is a quartz mineral, whereas jade belongs to its own mineral group.
• Aventurine comes in a rainbow of different colors, whereas jade is limited to a few color varieties.
• Green aventurine is abundant in the earth, whereas jade is less common.
• Best quality jade stones can have very high prices, whereas best quality green aventurine is still very affordable.

Green Aventurine and Jade: Two Green Colored Gemstones

Aventurine and jade are two minerals found in the earth with beautiful green hue. Though both these minerals may be colored green, the rest of the details couldn't be more different.

So without further ado, let me introduce you to green aventurine and jade!

All About Green Aventurine

History of Green Aventurine

Aventurine is the name given to a type of quartz variety. Difference from green quartz, aventurine is a quartzite mineral. Quartzite has a different composition than other quartz mineral forms, as well as different durability characteristics. Quartz is made of pure silica, while quartzite minerals like aventurine are metamorphic rocks composed within sandstone.

Aventurine is generally green, but there's also blue aventurine and many other colored aventurines. It is most often recognized by its sparkling appearance. The use of aventurine minerals dates back to ancient times, namely in Greece and Rome. Aventurine was often used to create buildings, art, and ornamental stone pieces.

Many also believed the stone had healing powers. Medieval Europeans believed the stone had magical properties and used as a talisman to bring luck and prosperity. It was a popular green stone to carry for gambling and other games of luck.

China used aventurine to treat different illnesses and conditions. They believed the stone to aid with eye problems and skin conditions.

Today, aventurine is still used in decorative pieces and stone. It's not found in fine jewelry stores, but still has its place among jewelry and crystal healing practices.

Where is Green Aventurine Found?

Quarz is one of the most abundant minerals in the earth's crust. Naturally, it would make sense that quartzite green aventurine is commonly found around the world. Still, there are primary places where green aventurine is mined like:

• Brazil
• Russia
• South Africa
• United States

Green Aventurine Appearance and Characteristics

Aventurine is typically characterized by its green color. It can range for light green to deeper green colors. Some of the trade color names for green colored aventurines are:

• Light Green
• Dark Green
• Forest Green
• Apple Green
• Olive Green
• Mint Green

The sparkling appearance of aventurine is caused by muscovite mica, hematite, or goethite. Most often, it's caused by small mica inclusions. The glittery effect is also referred to as aventurescence.

Other gems with mica in it tend to have a glittering effect and the stone in its rough form may feel grainy or scratchy. Lepidolite and fuschite are other stones that share their chemical composition with mica.

Aventurine is not a transparent gemstone like other varieties of quartz, like an amethyst. You're not likely to see-through an aventurine stone. It is found usually translucent to opaque, where very little light is able to pass through.

Healing Properties and Benefits of Aventurine

You already know some of the ancient practices of using aventurine for healing and metaphysical properties. Many of those same uses and meanings have transferred to modern times and today's crystal healing practices.

Green aventurine is associated with the Heart chakra. By placing this stone on your heart, it is said to aid in opening up this chakra and inviting love, compassion, and empathy into the user.

Green aventurine is believed to help the user or wearer by:

• Releasing negative emotions
• Invite peace and calm
• Bring abundance and prosperity (like many green stones)
• Enhance spiritual intuition
• Enhance meditation practices
• Boosting immune system
• Aids with skin conditions, headaches, and allergies

Price and Value of Green Aventurine

Green aventurine isn't an expensive stone compared to other gemstones. Small pieces can be found as little as a few dollars per carat. However, most people wearing aventurine jewelry opt for larger cabochons, often in pendants.

Best quality aventurines stones can go up to $50, and sometimes more. Large ornamental stone pieces of aventurine will obviously go for much more than your typical green aventurine pendants.

The wearability rating for green aventurine is said to be good for all types of everyday jewelry. It's a relatively hard stone with a scratchability rating of 7 on the Mohs scale. The stone should be regularly clean with a soft cloth and mild soap-water mixture. Make sure to dry with another soft cloth.

All About Jade

History of Jade Stones

The use of jade is strongly connected to Mesoamerica, Central America, and ancient Chinese culture.

The Aztecs and Mayans used jade mainly for decorative purposes. The stones were also used in ceremonial rituals and also believe to possess powers of wealth, power, and fertility.

The use of jade in China dates back to the Neolithic period. There it was also used for carvings and figurines. Traditionally, jade pieces were carved into dragons and other mythical figurines. Religious carvings of buddha statues were also popular.

The Chinese have believed jade possesses the power to balance the yin and yang of the world. Additionally, they used jade to create weapons, tools, and even musical instruments.

Where is Jade Found?

Though typically associated with Chinese culture, the biggest distributor of jade minerals comes from Myanmar (Formerly Burma). However, since the government takeover of Myanmar, many places have stopped acquiring jade from Myanmar, alongside Burmese rubies.

In addition to Myanmar and China, jade is found in:

• Canada
• Guatemala
• Russia
• United States
• New Zealand
• Taiwan
• Kazakhstan

Jade Appearance and Characteristics

Jade is a general term used to describe two different mineral forms: nephrite and jadeite. Jadeite jade is the gemstone that most people think of when they talk about valuable jade. Nephrite jade is the other kind of jade that is less valuable and more commonly found.

Read also: Jadeite vs Nephrite Jade

Most people think that all jade is green jade, but it's not. Jadeite jade characterized by bright green hues. In rarer cases, jadeite jade can be lavender, blue, and white.

Nephrite jade is also green, but more of a duller green in comparison. While it doesn't come in apple green hues like jadeite, many people enjoy the olive green colors found in a lot of nephrite jade. It can also be found as white and gray colored.

Both aventurine and nephrite jade are translucent to opaque gemstones. It's typical for nephrite to appear more cloudy and opaque. Best quality nephrite can be semi-translucent. Jadeite jade is known for its translucency and can even be transparent in the finest quality stones.

Both nephrite and jadeite jade can have inclusions. Most jade inclusions are tiny cracks, fissures, or mineral inclusions. Inclusions are natural in every stone and can enhance the beauty of jade in decorative pieces. However, in fine jade jewelry, more obvious inclusions is considered lesser quality.

Read also: Emerald vs Jade

Kinds of Jade Stones

Nephrite and jadeite are the two main types of jade. However, there have been trade names using "jade" to describe other stones and some stones that do have real jade in it. Here are the most popular:

• Indian Jade: Trade name for aventurine or serpentine found in India. Though called indian jade, the stone doesn't contain the minerals nephrite and jadeite.
• Australian Jade: describes yellow green nephrite found in Australia.
• Imperial Jade: Best quality bright green jadeite.
• Serpentine Jade: yellow-green type of nephrite used for decorative objects and carvings.
• Siberian Jade: Name for dark green jade with black or white speckled inclusions, only found in Russia.

Healing Properties and Benefits of Jade

Many of the ancient uses and beliefs of healing properties jade is said to possess are also transferred to modern healing crystal practices with the same stone. Though both nephrite and jadeite share similar properties, each type of jade has its own additional uses.

Nephrite jade is said to aid the user by:

• Promoting peace
• Soothing anxiety
• Opening the heart chakra
• Aiding kidney function and illnesses
• Immune system boosting
• Balancing the scales in the universe

Jadeite Jade is said to aid by:

• Bringing light and joy
• Release negative emotions
• Promote overall health and organ function
• Immune system boosting
• Aid in spirituality and enlightenment

Price and Value of Jade

Jade is a very valuable stone, especially in Asian countries. Best quality jadeite jade ranges in price, but has been known to cost over $10,000 per carat. Best quality nephrite jade can go for hundreds to thousands per carat.

It's hard to put an exact price on jade pieces as they vary by use, size, color, seller, and location. Market demand can always increase or decrease the cost of jade. Ornamental figurines and other jade carvings cost more due to both the artistry and size.

Being a microcrystalline gemstone, jade is another stone suitable for everyday wear. Jade bangles, pendants, and rings have been worn since ancient times. Nephrite and jadeite jade share the same scratch resistance rating of 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale.

Don't wear jade jewelry in extreme temperatures, as the stone can crack with the sudden difference.

Conclusion

Aventurine and jade have a similar appearance with their shades of green. Both gem materials have a rich history rooted uses for ornamental figurines, buddha statues, and various types of architecture.

Despite the many similarities between aventurine and jade, their price, value, color varieties, and chemical composition differs greatly.

Aventurine comes in many colors and is recognized for its shimmering or glittering effect. Green comes from muscovite mica inclusions. Brown and orange colors in aventurine are caused by hematite or goethite inclusions.

Both aventurine and jade are considered to have good wearability. They can be opaque stones as well, but jadeite jade can be transparent in its highest quality. High quality jade can go for thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. High quality green aventurine is likely to be in low hundreds at best quality.

Aventurine, jadeite jade, and nephrite jade all have good wearability and decent resistance to scratching. No matter which stone you choose, you're sure to be sporting a stunning piece of jewelry!